She made the comments after a businessman had handed over a €45,000 van for community policing duties in a city suburb.

But she clarified later that the force could not accept privately donated vehicles for the garda fleet.

She said she was referring to vans that could be used for the use of the community as part of special projects.

Ms O'Sullivan was satisfied, she said, with the current level of government investment in the fleet.

Last October the Government sanctioned a €4m investment in new garda patrol cars.

A total of 170 new cars and emergency vehicles are being deployed for garda units nationwide.

Ms O’Sullivan was in Cork city yesterday as she continued her countrywide tour of garda stations to hear the views of members of the force and accepted the new van from Cork businessman, Tom Cavanagh for use in the Knock project at Knocknaheeney.

It is the third time that a privately donated vehicle has been provided to the project, since it was launched in 1994 and while it will be driven by community policing officers it will be used exclusively to ferry around young and old members of the local community.

The donation was approved by both senior gardai and the Department.

However, no garda squad car or emergency response vehicle has ever been privately funded.

“The community bus today is a very positive aspect and not alone does the bus come to the community here today but this is the third such bus we have had (donated),” she added.